My child needs crowns…now what? 

Why Pediatric Dental Crowns instead of Fillings? 

There are many reason reasons for pediatric dental crowns.  A large amount of decay or a fracture to the tooth are the two most common reasons for pediatric dental crowns.

Rather than filling a cavity, a dental crown helps to protect the entire tooth. 

Your child’s first and second molars come in between the ages of 2-3 and last 10-12 years.  Dental crowns on the child’s molars, or any other baby teeth,  allow the teeth to last for their lifetime expectancy. 

Stainless Steel vs White Dental Crowns

Just 4 Kids Pediatric Dentistry & Sedation offers two types of crowns; stainless steel crowns & cubic zirconia crowns.

Stainless steel  dental crowns

The most commonly used crowns by dentists are stainless steel dental crowns.  This type of dental crown is often used for posterior (back) molars. The are durable, strong, and resistant to moisture and a child’s growing and developing mouth.  Most insurance company cover these types of dental crowns.

Cubic zirconia dental crowns

Cubic zirconia dental crowns (white crowns) are made with tooth colored material.  This type of dental crown is often placed on anterior (front) teeth needing crowns. These dental crowns are metal free and are practically indestructible and are even stronger and more durable than natural tooth enamel! Cubic zirconia crowns are also resistant to plaque accumulation and decay, and are allergy free. Cubic zirconia crowns are not known to initiate any allergic responses, and the material has a long history of being a biocompatible material in the human body.

If your child is need of pediatric dental crowns,  Contact Just 4 Kids Pediatric Dentistry to learn more about options for your child!

How can I help prevent my children’s teeth from decaying?

Follow these simple steps to prevent tooth decay: 

• Brush your child’s teeth twice a day. For younger child that want to brush their own teeth, allow them to brush first, then followup behind them to ensure that all teeth were properly cleaned.
• Always brush teeth for 2 full minutes. 
• Clean between your child’s teeth daily with floss.
• Encourage healthy habits. Keep meals nutritious and balanced, and limit snacking. Stay away from sticky and chewy substances, along with juices that are high in sugar. Check out our Pinterest board for Healthy Recipes That Will Make Your Teeth Smile! 
• Schedule regular dental visits for your child for professional cleanings and oral examination. Dental visits should be scheduled every 6 months. 
• Read more about cavity prevention services provided by Just 4 Kids Pediatric Dentistry

Let’s face it…if you are a parent or caregiver, you laugh hysterically at the image above because you know it speaks the truth. All-day snacking is just another indication of summer’s arrival. Wondering how to keep it in check? Here are a few tips from your friends at Just 4 Kids. Keep the cavities away with these simple steps!

Summer snacking tip #1: Make healthy snacks accessible

Make space in your pantry and refrigerator for ready-to-go snacks. Find a few fun baskets that can be designated snack baskets for your little munchers! Make them even easier to access by placing baskets in a cabinet that your child can reach with no fuss. For the pantry: stock with individual serving sizes of goldfish, applesauce, trail mix, crackers, rice cakes, granola bars, healthy muffins, and the like. For the fridge: stock with hard boiled eggs, string cheese, fruit, veggies, lunch meat (roll ups are always a winner), yogurt…the list could go on and on! Find more ideas on self-serve snack baskets here.

Summer snacking tip #2: Choose water over juice,  gatorade, and other sugary drinks

Though Gatorade and apple juice may TASTE more refreshing on a hot day, water will help you stay hydrated the most since it has 0g sugar. Gatorade and apple juice are full of sugar bugs (yuck!). A bottle of Gatorade contains 56g of sugar; according to the USDA, children should consume 40g sugar per day.

Summer snacking tip #3: Make it homemade

For more filling and nutritious snacks, try homemade! Homemade snacks cut out a hefty amount of the sugar and preservatives that are found in store-bought products. You can find lots of ideas on Pinterest. Try baking and cooking with kids as a fun afternoon activity during the summer. Cooking with kids also introduces them to new foods, along with kitchen concepts.

Summer snacking tip #4: Road trip tips

Here’s one of our favorites!!!! Instead of making countless stops at the convenience store (where begging is sure to ensue and sugary treats glare at all of us), try this! Grab a crafting storage box and go to town creating a fun, healthy, and colorful snack box that is sure to keep kids occupied the whole ride through. We LOVE i should be mopping the floor’s post. 

Summer snacking tip #5: Eat the rainbow!

Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple…challenge your children to eat the rainbow each day. Have them search for new and interesting fruits and vegetables in the grocery store and host an in-home taste test. It’s always more fun when you make it a game!!

We hope you enjoy these ideas, and that they take the stress out of the summertime snacking. Wishing you and yours the best this summer…have fun exploring!
To keep up with us on Pinterest (and to stay up to date on the latest recipes that make your teeth smile), follow us here! 

If you are heading out of town during Spring Break, be sure to take extra special care of your teeth!
Many families seek out big adventures, and who knows what can happen during those!

Preventative dental emergency measures you can:

1. Visit the dentist before your big trip. Contact us to schedule your dentist appointment.
2. If you are traveling to a lesser-developed country, a Hepatitis B immunization is a good step to take in case a dental emergency arises and the local dentist is not vaccinated (OSAP suggestion).
3. Avoid chewing ice, popcorn kernels, and hard candy. Don’t use your teeth to open packages.

Here’s what to do in case of a dental emergency: 

1) Toothache? First, floss to make sure a piece of food isn’t irritating your tooth. If the ache continues after a few days, seek out a dentist.

2) Broken/Chipped/Cracked Tooth? Rinse your mouth out with water. Put pressure on the area with something cold to keep swelling to a minimum. Call us at 804.562.2667 to schedule an appointment upon your return! If it feels urgent, don’t wait. Head to the emergency room as soon as possible.

3) Knocked Out Tooth? Retrieve the tooth and hold it by the crown (top of the tooth). Rinse the tooth if it’s dirty, but try not to scrub in case there is attached tissue. Put the tooth in a small container of milk or lightly salted water. Contact a local dentist as soon as possible, as knocked out teeth have a higher chance of being saved within 1 hour of the accident.

 How to find a dentist abroad: